Novels by Santana Fox

He stared at me.I stared right back.Our eyes fixed on each other.The world did not end, though it felt like it should have.His mouth opened."What the hell?" he screamed. "Adene? Is this a joke? Are you stalking me now?""Jaxson." Maria appeared behind him, but her eyes moved straight to me, then to her watch."You are two minutes late, Miss Adene.""I was here at six," I said. "I rang the bell at exactly—""Late for what?" Jaxson turned to Maria, looking totally confused.Maria straightened. "Miss Adene is the new nanny, Master Jaxson. Mrs. Gabe's recommendation. Your mother approved her last night."Jaxson looked at Maria. "You're serious? Wait, you're really serious?""Yes, sir."He looked back at me.I watched him process it. The suspicion. The thousand questions lined up behind his eyes."Do you know each other?" Maria asked."No," I said before Jaxson could open his mouth.I kept my voice even and looked at Maria directly."We don't. Can I see the girl? I'd like to get start

I stared at the screen until the light burned my eyes.Removed from the WhatsApp group. Then from the squad. What for? What was my offense?My phone rang out. Maya was calling.I picked up."Clara? Are you seeing this?" Maya’s voice was frantic. "I just saw the notification. I tried to message the group to ask what was going on, and she blocked me from sending messages too. That bitch actually blocked me.""I saw it," I said weakly."We’re going to fight this," Maya snapped. "I’ll call Coach Davies. I’ll call the principal. You’re the best dancer on that squad, Clara. Everyone knows it. Sloane is just threatened because you’re the one who actually knows the counts.""Don't, Maya," I said in a whisper. "Just don't.""What do you mean, don't? You worked harder than anyone!""I don't have the energy for the drama, Maya," I said, a tear finally escaping and hot-tracking down my cheek. "My mom is in the ICU…"Maya paused.I didn't stop. My voice shook, but I told her everything. The rent

The word hit me like a physical blow to the chest.Filled?This couldn't be true. I needed this job. It wasn't just a job; it was the medicine in my mother's veins. It was the roof over our heads."Maria, wait," Mrs. Gabe pleaded. "I spoke to Helena this afternoon. She said—""And I am speaking to you now!" Maria retorted, her voice cold and sharp."The family decided on a professional from the city agency. We don't have time for charity cases."She began to pull the door shut."Please," Mrs. Gabe whispered, but it was too late."Maria? Who is at the door?" a soft voice called out from the hallway behind her.Maria stilled.She didn't close the door, but she didn't open it further either.A woman appeared behind her in the doorway, tall and composed. She looked like she was carved from expensive marble. As she approached, Maria opened the door wide, and her eyes turned to Mrs. Gabe first."Eleanor," she spoke calmly."Helena." Mrs. Gabe stepped forward, her hand tightening on my sh

I couldn’t speak.“She’s fading, Clara,” he continued. "Every hour we wait is an hour we don’t get back. If we delay much longer, she might not make it.”The doctor walked away to check on another patient."I’ll get the money, sir. I’ll try," I whispered as he went.My phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down, hoping for a miracle, but it was just another nightmare.It was a text I had ignored three times this week.Mr. Chase: Miss Adene, the rent on your apartment is 60 days past due. An eviction notice has been filed. Pay $2,000 by 6 PM, or the locks are changed.I felt the air leave my lungs. I don’t remember sliding down the wall, but suddenly my knees were at my chest.I was seventeen. I was just a student. And I was completely alone.“Clara? Is that you?”I looked up, my eyes blurred with tears. An older woman in a neat gray suit stood there. It was Mrs. Gabe, my mother’s only friend from the old days.“Mrs. Gabe,” I choked out, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.She lowered herself

Clara’s POVSterling Heights Academy – CafeteriaThe warm milk dripped down my hoodie, soaking into the thick fabric.I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.“Oops,” Sloane smirked. She held the empty milk carton like a trophy. “I thought that was the trash can. My bad, scholarship girl. You’re just so… big, it’s hard to tell where you end and the garbage begins.”The cafeteria exploded with laughter.Sterling Heights Academy had a way of turning humiliation into entertainment. If the elites laughed, everyone laughed. It was the survival of the cruelest, and today I was the main event.I stared at my tray, trying to breathe through the humiliation.“Is it heavy?” a cold voice asked.The room went silent.Jaxson King.The hockey captain was looking right at me."Is that your third tray, Hulk?" he said. "Or are you just pacing yourself today?”The hall roared again.The nickname "Hulk" felt like a physical slap every time. Jaxson had called me that on my very first day at Sterling